Atomizing sprayer



Oct. 11, v s TIDD ATOMIZING SPRAYER Filed Deo. 8, 1952 Oct. ll, 1955 V. s. T|DD ATOMIZING SPRAYER` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1952 l/l l United States Patent Office 2,720,421 Patented Clot. 11, 1955 ATOMIZING SPRAYER Victor S. Tidal, Lowell, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Root-Lowell Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Ohio Application December 8, 1952, Serial No. 324,628

6 Claims. (Cl. 299-88) The present device relates to a novel hand-operated sprayer' that may be easily carried on the person without danger of spillage or leakage of the liquid contents when in closed or inoperative position, but which is so constructed that merely pulling apart the collapsed assembly makes it available for immediate use, The present invention relates to an improvement over the sprayer disclosed in the co-pending application of William Dickison, John Lewis Winks and Victor S. Tidd, filed January 3, 1951, under Serial No. 204,252.

In the present novel sprayer there is comprehended a pair of tubular telescoping sections the inner of which includes a relatively large reservoir for the liquid to be sprayed, a Siphon tube and means for supplying the liquid to the Siphon tube, and the outer provides the pump barrel into which air is drawn when these sections are pulled apart, and when these sections are forced together on the forward stroke, this air is compressed and forced through an air tube or passage toward the discharge end of the sprayer where it is emitted from about the Siphon tube and this issuing stream of air atomizes the spraying solution to produce a vaporized mist.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel atomizing sprayer so constructed and designed as to prevent creation of a partial vacuum in the liquid or insecticide container or receptacle upon the discharge of the spray. Any such tendency to create a partial vacuum in the container or receptacle for the spraying solution results in a decrease in the quantity or amount of spray emitted and a resulting decrease in the eiciency or effectiveness of the sprayer for the purpose intended.

Another important feature of the present novel invention is that means are provided for venting the liquid container or receptacle when the sprayer is being operated and the valve plunger is in open position, and to effectively seal off this vent when the valve plunger is manually moved to its closed or inoperative position.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maXimum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the novel spraying device.

Fig. 2 is a View in front or end elevation of the spraying device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, of the novel sprayer and showing the position of the parts when the telescoping tubular members or casings have been moved to closed or collapsed position and the parts are locked in that inoperative position to prevent leakage and accidental or unintentional release.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary View showing in vertical cross section the operative parts at the forward or discharge end of the sprayer when in operative position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in vertical cross section the parts at the rear end of the sprayer in operative position.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is also a view in vertical cross section but taken in a plane represented by the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is another view in vertical cross section but taken in a plane represented by the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a view in vertical cross section taken in `a plane represented by the line 9--9 of Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly to the novel embodiment therein shown, the novel spraying device comprises a pair of telescoping members 1t) and 11 with the inner member provided with an end cap 12 fixed thereto and may be knurled at 13 on its external surface to provide a hand gripping portion. The outer or forward wall of this end cap is provided with a cup-shaped centrally disposed depression or recess 14 having a relatively small discharge passage 15 disposed centrally thereof, and also provided with an indentation 16 having an opening for receiving the open forward end of a vent tube 17. The inner telescoping member 1t) being hollow provides a large reservoir or chamber 18 for receiving and maintaining readily available a large quantity of spraying tiuid or solution, such as an insecticide, the circumferential wall of this member being provided with an internally threaded insert 19 having a filling opening and a closure or filler plug 21 therefor. An G-ring or gasket 22 provides an effective sealing means for this opening when the closure or plug 21 is tightened, the opening in the insert 19 being of sufficient diameter to permit the insecticide chamber to be readily filled with the desired quantity of the spray solution.

Centrally disposed within the insecticide chamber i8 is mounted an elongated tube or sleeve-like member 23 which at its forward end encompasses and provides a tight closure about the cup-shaped depression 14 and at its rearward end is received within the forward end of a connector or coupling member 24. The other or rear end 25 of this coupling is reduced and adapted to receive and tightly encompass the forward end of an elongated tube 26 for the passage of air. The rear end of this air tube 26 is press-tted or conformably mounted in the bore of a sleeve-like coupling member or connector 27, with its rearwardly extending end 23 projecting through and carrying a cup-shaped piston 29 of leather or other flexible material, and externally threaded to receive an internally threaded collar 31 to lock the piston between it and an end plate 32.

The end plate 32 is provided with an outer ange 33 press-fitted into the inner end of the inner telescoping member 10 and an inner flange 34 press-htted onto the coupling member 27, whereby to provide an end or sealing closure for this telescoping member 10. By this construction and arrangement, the tube or sleeve-like member 23, the coupling member 24, the air tube 26, the coupling member 27, the end plate 32, the collar 31 and the piston 29 are connected to and carried by the inner telescoping member 10 as the telescoping members 10 and 11 are pulled apart or pushed together in the operation of the sprayer, and the end plate 32 provides a closure for the rear or inner end of the tubular member 10 whereby the latter provides a closed receptacle for a very substantial quantity of the liquid spraying solution, such as an insecticide.

Slidably mounted within the sleeve or tube 23 in the inner telescoping member 10 is an elongated member 35 fitting conformably within the sleeve or tube but having its opposite sides 36 cut away or liattened (Fig. 6) to provide longitudinally extending air passages between the member 35 and the encompassing sleeve 23. This member 35 is open at its innerend 37 and with its outer end 38 closed except for a relatively small and countersunk opening in an annular projection providing a siphon tube 39 extendinginto'the opening 15 but spaced from the edge of this opening to provide an annular passage for air about the-end of the siphon tube 39, the latter providing a passage for the Vspray solution when the pump is being operated.

Within -the slidably mounted member 35 are disposed annular, channelled. spacers 41, 42 and 43 separated by O-rings 44, 45, 46 and 47, these spacers having openings.

48 therethrough, the openings 48 in the spacer 41 coimmunicating with the spraying solution through one end of a supply tube 49. The other end of this supply tube 49 depends intoa cup or. receptacle 51 adapted to receive the liquid orspraying solution from the reservoiror chamber 18 whenever the sprayer is held or moved to a substantially horizontal position. Thus the user or operator is enabled to spray when holding the sprayer in substantially any position for when the sprayer is held in a substantially vertical position the user is enabled to operatethe sprayer until the cup or receptacle S1 is substantially empty, whereupon tilting the sprayer toward a. horizontal position allows the spraying solution or liquid in the chamber or reservoir 18 to again partially or wholly fill the cup or receptacle 51. Should the sprayer be directed downward, so long as there is suiiicient liquid or fluid in the chamber orreservoir 13 to submerge the forward end of the cup or receptacle 51, the latter remains substantially full due to the siphoning action of the sprayer.

Disposed within the elongated member 35 and encompassed by the spacers 41, 42 and 43, and the O-rings 44, 45, 46 and 47, is a valve plunger 52 having at its forward, end a pin or projection 53 adapted to enter and be conformably received within the opening of the siphon tube 39 when the sprayer is not in use (Fig. 3) and its telescoping tubular members are held in inoperative or retracted position, whereby to prevent the entrance of foreign matter through said opening and to maintain this relatively small opening clear of any possible Vobstruction, such as crystals or other matter that might collect therein due to evaporation or for other reasons.

To the inner end of the valve plunger 52 is atiixed a collar or enlargement 54, and forwardly therefrom in spaced relation on the valve plunger is slidably mounted a collar or washer 55 bearing against the end 37 of the member 35. A relatively heavy compression spring 56 bears at its inner end against or is axed to the fixed collar or enlargement 54 and at its outer or forward end bears against or is affixed vto the movable collar or washer 55 tending to force the plunger rearwardly or inwardly. Thus the spring tends to retain the plunger in retracted or open and spraying position in which the collar or enlargement 54 is forced rearwardly against an internal shoulder 57 in the coupling or connector 24 (Fig. 4), and the pin or projection 53 is withdrawn from the opening in the siphon tube 39. This valve plunger 52'is further provided with an annular reduction or channel 58 intermediate the pin or projection 53 and the collar or washer 55. A vent tube 59, like the vent tube 17, has one end extending through an opening in the sleeve or tubular member 23 and this end connected to an openingk or port in the member 35 opening into the annular passage or channel of the spacer 43. At its other end this'vent tube 59 opens into the chamber or liquid reservoir 1S, whereas the vent tube 17 opens at one end into the annular passage or channel 58 of the spacer 42 and at its other end to the atmosphere through Vthe end cap 12.

Mounted within and carried by the outer telescoping member 11 is a rod-like member 61 suitably secured or anchored atits rearward, end in a plug 62 mounted in an end cap 63 having a knurled outer surface 64 for facili tating gripping this end during operation. Also mounted on this plug is a spring clip 65. having spring lingers 66 with their curved ends adapted to engage and seat within an annular recess or depression 67 when the telescoping members 10 and 11 are moved to their retracted and inoperative position (Fig. 3).V The rod or member 61 extends loosely through the bore of the coupling or connector 27 and the elongated air tube 26, where the forward end of the member 61 is threaded or suitably connected at 68 to an extension 69 of somewhat greater cross section than the rod 61 but of hexagonal or polygonal shape (Figs. 3 andf7) to provide longitudinal air passages between its sides and the interior of the tube 26. The forward end of this extension is adapted to abut the collar 54 and forward end of the valve plunger 52 so as to move this valve plunger forwardly or outwardly into closedposition in which the spring 56 is compressed, and the spring fingers 66 of the clip 65 engage and seat in the depression 67.

To provide for the entrance of air into the outer tube 11 and rearwardly of the piston 29, air is drawn inwardly between telescoping surfaces of the tubular members 10 and 11 by providing the tubular member 1t) with longitudinally arranged liutes 71 (Fig. 8) extending preferably from approximately the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the inner end of this tube 10 adjacent the piston 29. When the tubular members 10 and 11 are pulled firmly apart, air enters and passes along the tintes 71- into the chamber of the outer tubular telescoping member 11 to the rear of the piston 29. This outer stroke, i. e. pulling the tubular members 1G and 11 apart, is limited by the end 72 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the hexagonal section or extension 69 which forms a stop when engaging the shoulder 73 (Fig. 5) provided on the interior of the coupling member or connector 27.

On the forward stroke, i. e. when the tubular members 10 and 11 are pushed together, the air in the chamber of'the outer telescoping member 11 is compressed and forced forwardly through the annular passageway in the coupling member or connector 27 between its interior surface and the rod 61, thence forwardly through the annular space between the rod 61 and the air tube 26, through the passageways provided between the liattened sides of hexagonal section or extension 69 and the air tube 26 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7), about the washer or collar 54 and then through the spaces provided between the tiattened side walls 36 of the member 35 and the encompassing sleeve or tube 23 (Fig. 6) and outwardly in the annular space encompassing the siphon tube 39 in the opening 15 in the depression 14 of the end wall 12 (Figs. 3 and 4). As this air is discharged through this annular port about the siphon tube 39, it mixes with the spraying solution or insecticide issuing from the siphon tube and the atomized mixture is ejected as a vaporized mist.

When thesprayingoperation has been completed, the telescoping members 10 and 11 are are moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the pin or projection 53 on the valve plunger is forced into the opening or aperture in the siphon` tube 39, cleaning and dislodging any solid particles from this tube and preventing foreign matter from entering into the tube to prevent or insure against any leakage or dripping of the liquid or insecticide through the siphon tube. In this position the spring ngers 66 by seating in the recess 67 retain the telescoping members 10 and 11 in closed position, but this interlocking engagement ymay be readily released by firmly grasping the knurled ends of these telescoping members and forcibly pulling these members apart.

In order to effectively vent the spraying unit during operation (Fig. 4) and prevent the1creation of a partial vacuum in the liquid container or reservoir 18 of the telescoping member 10, with, the resulting decrease in the quantity oramountofispray emitted, ,the .present-.in-

fem-ft vention comprehends the provision of the vent tubes 17 and 59. The vent tube 17 extends from the end cap 12 where its outer end opens to the atmosphere, to the valve assembly in the member 35 and through the center spacer 42 therein to the annular groove 58 in the valve piston or plunger 52 through an opening 48 in the spacer 42. Passage of air is continued past the O-ring 46 by means of the groove or channel 58, through an opening 48 in the spacer 43 and to the tube 59. This tube 59 which opens into the liquid chamber or receptacle 18 has a relatively small inside diameter so that the volume of liquid that may enter this tube from the reservoir will be expelled by the influx of air. When the valve plunger or piston is in its forward, closed position (Fig. 3) a seal from the tube 59 to the atmosphere is effectively provided by means of the -rings 46 and 47.

The physical character of the spray issuing from the siphon tube 39 may be modified by adjusting the filler plug 21. Thus by loosening the cap, a denser spray may be emitted. To prevent loss or misplacement ot this plug, it is preferably provided with a cord or wire 74 having one end connected to the plug and the other end conveniently connected to or looped about the air tube 26.

The present sprayer is preferably constructed of stainless steel or non-corrosive material and rigid material, and is small and compact so that it may be readily carried about on the person and easily stored when not in use.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. In a hand-operated sprayer, a pair of concentric tubular members longitudinally movable in telescoping relation and one having a discharge opening at one end, one of said members providing a reservoir for liquid insecticide or spray solution and the other providing an air chamber for receiving air as the members are pulled apart, a piston for forcing the air in the air chamber as the members are pushed together, means for conveying this air to the discharge opening including a sleeve member provided with a Siphon tube projecting into the discharge opening, a valve plunger in said sleeve member provided with plural spacers and sealing rings between said spacers all encompassing the valve plunger and disposed between the plunger and sleeve member, and venting means open to the interior of the reservoir and to the atmosphere through said spacers and about the valve plunger when the latter is in open position for spraying and closed when the valve plunger is in closed position and the sprayer is not in use.

2. In a hand-operated sprayer, a pair of concentric members longitudinally movable in telescoping relation for spraying, one of said members providing a reservoir for a liquid spray and having a discharge opening at one end and the other providing an air chamber for receiving air as the members are pulled apart, a piston for forcing the air in the air chamber as the members are pushed together, means for conveying this air to the discharge opening including a sleeve member provided with a Siphon tube for the liquid projecting into the discharge opening, a valve plunger in said sleeve member provided with plural spacers and sealing rings between said spacers all encompassing the valve plunger and conformably received in the annular space between the valve plunger and said encompassing sleeve member, said plunger being grooved and said spacers channelled and recessed, and venting means open to the interior of the reservoir and to the atmosphere through said channels and openings in the spacers and the groove in the valve plunger when the latter is in open position for spraying and closed when the valve plunger is in closed position and the sprayer is not in use.

3. In a hand-operated sprayer, a pair of concentric tubular members longitudinally movable in telescoping relation, one of said members providing a reservoir for a liquid insecticide or spray solution with a discharge opening at one end and the other providing an air chamber for receiving air as the members are pulled apart, a piston for forcing the air in the air chamber as the members are pushed together, means for conveying this air to the discharge opening including a sleeve member provided with a Siphon tube for the liquid projecting into the discharge opening, a valve plunger in said sleeve member having an annular groove and4 provided with plural spacers and sealing rings between said spacers encompassing the valve plunger and conformably mounted within said encompassing sleeve member, said spacers each provided with an annular channel and one or more openings therein, means for supplying liquid to be sprayed to the siphon tube through one of said spacers when the valve plunger is moved to open position, and venting means open to the interior of the reservoir and to the atmosphere through said other spacers and the groove in the valve plunger when the latter is in open position for spraying and closed when the valve plunger is in closed position and the sprayer is not in use, whereupon said sealing rings seal against the passage of liquid to the Siphon tube and seal ofi the interior of the reservoir to the atmosphere.

4. A hand-operated sprayer, comprising a pair of telescoping members of rigid construction having at one end a discharge orifice for the passage of a liquid to be sprayed and a discharge opening for air under pressure about the orice, a liquid chamber provided in one member and a pump chamber provided. in the other, means for supplying liquid from the liquid chamber to the orice, means for supplying air under pressure to the discharge opening and about the liquid orifice, means for venting the liquid chamber to prevent creation of a partial vacuum therein during operation and a plunger in said telescoping members for controlling said venting means.

5. A handoperated sprayer, comprising a pair of telescoping members having a Siphon tube provided with a discharge orifice at one end for the passage of a spray solution and a discharge passage for air under pressure about the orifice, one of said members having a reservoir for a spray solution and the other member having a pump cha Aiber, means for supplying a spray solution from the reservoir to the discharge orifice of the Siphon tube, means for supplying air under pressure to the discharge passage about the orifice, venting means connecting the reservoir with the atmosphere when the sprayer is operated, and valve means in said sprayer for closing the reservoir to the atmosphere when the telescoping members are moved to inoperative position.

6. A sprayer comprising a pair of telescoping members having a Siphon tube provided with a discharge orifice at one end for the passage of a spray solution and a discharge passage for air under pressure adjacent the orifice, one of said members having a reservoir for a spray solution and the other member having a pump chamber for the admission of air when said members are being pulled apart, means for supplying a spray solution from the reservoir to the discharge orifice of the Siphon tube, means for supplying air under pressure to the discharge passage when said members are pushed together into telescoped relation, venting means connecting the reservoir with the atmosphere when the sprayer is operated, and a valve plunger for sealing the reservoir to the atmosphere when the telescoping members are moved to inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,661 Custer Mar. l5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 598,807 France Oct. 5, 1925 

